Three Brands Hatch one-twos round off a remarkable 2026 season for Wera Alliance Racing Academy
Wera Alliance Racing Academy brought the curtain down on an outstanding 2026 MINI CHALLENGE JCW Sport season with a dominant display at Brands Hatch, as Alfie Garford and Murray Richardson secured three consecutive one-two finishes.
Garford, who had already secured the JCW Sport Championship at Silverstone, completed his title-winning campaign with a clean sweep of all three victories around the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit.
Richardson followed his teammate home in second in each race and secured the fastest lap in Race 2, completing an impressive season as JCW Sport Championship runner-up.
It meant the two Academy teammates ended the year first and second in the championship having shared all 20 JCW Sport race victories between them.
QUALIFYING – DOUBLE RED FLAG DISRUPTION
The weekend got off to a frustrating start on Saturday as qualifying was disrupted by two separate red flags.
Each stoppage delayed the session and severely restricted track time, preventing around half of the grid – including Garford and Richardson – from setting representative lap times.
More importantly, neither driver was able to record the second-fastest qualifying lap normally used to determine the Race 1 grid.
With the necessary qualifying times unavailable, the starting order reverted to the result of the previous race at Silverstone.
It was an unusual beginning to the weekend, but once racing started, the Academy pair quickly returned to familiar territory.
RACE 1 – GARFORD LEADS HOME ACADEMY ONE-TWO
Garford immediately established himself at the front of JCW Sport, with Richardson following closely behind.
Despite another interrupted race, Alfie was confirmed as the class winner, with Murray taking second to secure the Academy’s first one-two of the weekend.
Garford also recorded the fastest JCW Sport lap.
Race 1: Garford P1 + Fastest Lap | Richardson P2
It was Alfie’s 16th victory of the season and the perfect start to his final weekend as the newly crowned champion.
RACE 2 – RICHARDSON TAKES FASTEST LAP
Sunday morning saw the Wera Alliance pair once again control the JCW Sport contest.
Garford secured victory number 17, but Richardson remained close throughout and demonstrated his pace by recording the fastest JCW Sport lap of the race.
The teammates crossed the line just over a second apart to record another Academy one-two.
Race 2: Garford P1 | Richardson P2 + Fastest Lap
For Murray, taking fastest lap against the driver who had dominated the championship was another indication of the progress made during his first full season of racing.
RACE 3 – THREE FROM THREE
The final race of the season offered one last opportunity to finish the campaign on a high.
Garford duly delivered.
The #88 driver took his third victory of the weekend and added another fastest lap, completing a perfect Brands Hatch hat-trick.
Richardson again followed home in second, meaning all three races at the season finale ended with the two Wera Alliance cars occupying the top two positions in JCW Sport.
Race 3: Garford P1 + Fastest Lap | Richardson P2
For Alfie, it completed a remarkable season with 18 victories from 20 races.
For Murray, another podium secured an impressive second place in the championship.
And for Wera Alliance Racing Academy, it was the perfect conclusion to a year in which its two young drivers had set the standard in JCW Sport.
2026 SEASON REVIEW
ALFIE GARFORD – JCW SPORT CHAMPION
Garford’s first season in JCW Sport proved to be exceptional.
After stepping up from the MINI CHALLENGE Trophy, the 17-year-old immediately adapted to the faster machinery and began winning from the opening weekend at Donington Park.
That momentum continued throughout the year.
By the time the championship reached Silverstone, Garford had built an advantage large enough to secure the title with a meeting still remaining.
He ended 2026 with:
18 victories from 20 races
2 second places
20 podiums from 20 starts
Never lower than second
2026 JCW Sport Champion
Beyond the statistics, the season represented another significant step in Alfie’s development.
His speed was clear from the opening round, but as the season progressed he added greater consistency, race management and confidence when dealing with championship pressure.
Having previously won British championships in both junior and senior karting, Alfie has now added a major car racing championship to his CV.
Plans for 2027 are already being worked on, with both driver and team looking towards another significant step forward.
MURRAY RICHARDSON – JCW SPORT VICE-CHAMPION
For Richardson, 2026 represented his first full season of car racing – making his eventual championship result even more impressive.
Murray developed considerably as the year progressed, becoming increasingly competitive with his more experienced teammate and taking two JCW Sport victories of his own.
His Silverstone Race 3 victory was arguably one of the highlights of his season.
After making a rare mistake earlier in the day, Murray responded superbly in difficult wet conditions while running on slick tyres.
He and Alfie produced a captivating battle for the lead, with the television cameras following the teammates as they traded moves throughout the race.
Murray ultimately produced a brilliant switchback from the final corner to gain the momentum required to beat Alfie to the line.
It demonstrated not only his outright pace but the racecraft and resilience he had developed throughout the season.
Ending his first full campaign as JCW Sport Championship runner-up, with race wins, fastest laps and regular podium finishes, gives Richardson a strong platform from which to build.
PETE OSBORNE – TEAM PRINCIPAL
Pete Osborne said:
“When we look back at the season, I’m incredibly proud of what both drivers have achieved.
“With Alfie, the numbers are exceptional. Eighteen wins from twenty races and never finishing lower than second shows the level of performance and consistency he’s reached.
“But we’ve seen development beyond simply becoming faster. His understanding of races, technical feedback, decision-making and ability to deal with pressure have all moved forward significantly.
“He’s now won British championships in karting and cars and I think he’s demonstrated that he’s ready for another challenge. We’re already working hard on the next step and we’re setting our sights high.
“Murray’s progression has been equally rewarding to watch. You have to remember this has been his first complete season of car racing.
“At the beginning of the year he was learning almost everything. By the end of it he was capable of genuinely taking the fight to Alfie, winning races and setting fastest laps.
“Silverstone probably summed that development up perfectly. He made a rare mistake in one race, reset himself and then produced one of his best drives of the season a few hours later.
“That’s exactly what development is about.
“They’ve also been very good for each other. Alfie has given Murray an extremely high benchmark to work towards, while Murray’s increasing pace has continued to push Alfie.
“They share data and information away from the circuit, but once they’re on track they’re racers and they both want to win.
“For Wera Alliance Racing Academy to finish the season first and second in the championship and to have won every JCW Sport race between the two cars is something everyone involved should be extremely proud of.”
ALFIE GARFORD
Garford added:
“It’s been an unbelievable season.
“Winning the championship was obviously the biggest moment, but probably my favourite race was the final one at Silverstone with Murray. We were on slicks in the wet, racing side-by-side and throwing moves at each other, and the TV cameras really picked up on it.
“That was just proper racing and I loved it.
“Then going to Brands with the championship already won and taking three wins was the perfect way to finish the season.
“I’m really proud of the 18 wins, but finishing all 20 races inside the top two probably means just as much because it shows the consistency we’ve had all year.
“A massive thank you to everyone at Alliance, the Academy and all the partners who make it possible.
“We’re already working on next year. Nothing is confirmed yet, but we’re aiming high and I definitely feel ready for the next challenge.”
MURRAY RICHARDSON
Richardson said:
“When I look back at where I started the season compared with where I finished it, I think I’ve made a massive step forward.
“I’ve learned so much from the team and also from having Alfie alongside me. He’s set an incredibly high benchmark all year and that’s forced me to keep improving.
“The Silverstone win is probably the moment that stands out most. After making a mistake earlier in the day, to come back and have that battle with Alfie and then win it with the move out of the final corner was a great feeling.
“Finishing second in the championship in my first full season is something I’m really proud of, but it’s also made me hungry for more.
“Brands was a great way to finish with three one-twos and taking fastest lap in Race 2. Now it’s about taking everything I’ve learned this year and using it for the next step.”
